It is needless to me to say much of Ceylon Buddhists of our beloved Colonel Olcott. His name is house hold word among us, for he was the founder in Ceylon of the Buddhist educational work, carried on for so many years under his encouragement, and it was due to him that so many helpers were sent from time to time to give a much needed push to the wheel of progress; and had it not been for him and the existence of the Theosophical Society, doctor daily would not have come here, and this college do not have existed, nor indeed, should I be writing this note. From may 17th 1880, Vesak day, when he and H.P.B. landed in Galle, till 17th February 17th, 1907 when he loft his body, he never faltered in his interests in the Buddhist educational work. I cannot do better than quote here the words of Mr. Lead beater who wrote:-
Henry Steel shared with Madam Blavatsky the honor of founding the Society; and, if through came the teaching the spreading of the which was the object of its existence, it was the administrative ability which made the existence possible, his hand which steered the Theosophical ship over many stormy sea and through many a difficult passage. He was prepared for this position not only by the special work of the early years of his life, but also by previous incarnations in which he had held positions curiously parallel, always connected with the preaching of a great religion, get never himself the preacher, but the administrative officer, whose work made the teaching possible. Soon he will come again to carry on to greater highest the work which he has so well begun; and those who labored under him this time may well have the opportunity of serving with him then, if they but take too hard the lesson of his life the lesson of answering loyalty and whole-should devotion to the great course, which was always for him the one thing to which all else must yield; for which he stood ever ready to sacrifice ease and comfort, and very own life itself. Faithfully unto death in this life, as in that other lived so long ago, he stands before us and exemplar of courage, loyalty, and unselfishness. For the great Master’s he lived, he lives and he will live; when once more he rises there banner, may we have the strength to follow in as he as followed them.

                                      A letter by Olcott                                    Olcott with Bhikkus

Opening of Olcott mawatha